British police are appealing for witnesses after a teenage boy was dragged from a street into a van which then drove off in Essex.

The alleged victim is described as a white male, possibly aged approximately 16/17-years-old with a slim build. He was wearing blue coloured jeans and a grey coloured jumper.

Officers were told that at around 3pm on Wednesday, a white van stopped in the Hornchurch area and forced the boy into the vehicle.

Police are especially keen to be contacted by a dog walker seen in the local area who was witnessed shouting "stop" at the van.

This witness is described as a white man, possibly aged in his 30s, walking a brown or gold-coloured dog.

The van is described as small, coloured white but dirty and with a side opening door. The rear windows are believed to be blacked out and the front headlights are believed to have a blue coloured tint.

There are currently no matching missing persons reports and police have no further details which could lead to the identity of the boy.